New York's top cop has said the only reason a police officer told a Times Square desnuda to cover up her two-year-old daughter was because it was cold rather than any law she may have been breaking.

NYPD Chief Bill Bratton told reporters that he was frustrated with the current situation at the Crossroads of the World that allows women to parade around topless in exchange for tips.

“That’s the craziness of this issue of ‘artistic freedom’ when it goes to the extent of [the mother] — if in fact that was the mother — exploiting that young child for whatever purpose in the square there,’’ he said.

The desnuda in question, was identified by the New York Post as 'painted lady Maria Diaz.' She brought the toddler to Times Square around 4 p.m. on Monday.

Cover up! Street performer, Maria Diaz, drew outrage Monday when she paraded around Times Square topless and in a short skirt — with her infant daughter dressed the same way

To the rescue: Video of the topless twosome — who were also holding the letters N and Y was taken by a Times Square Batman, who was appalled by the display

“My understanding of the [cop’s] request or the demand to put the shirt on the child had nothing to do with the idea of the artistic expression she was engaged in, but rather just concerned about the child’s welfare, that it was getting cold in Times Square,’’ Bratton continued.

“I’m pretty upset about it, as I think any parent would be, about using a child in that fashion.”

Both mom and tot were topless and had black crosses painted across their chests.

Diaz tried to get tourists to pose with her and her daughter, but many were put off by the sight of a the mother exploiting her child in an attempt to make a living.

Others were also reviled at the sight of a little girl with no shirt on.

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Touting for tourists: The desnuda grabbed the crowd’s attention with the virtual Mini-Me posing alongside her. Diaz’s two-year-old daughter was also topless and had her own black heart painted across her chest

'That's disgusting,' one tourist told the Daily News. 'A mother should have better judgment than to do that to the kid ... who knows what someone could have done.' But another tourist from Ohio didn't see anything amiss. 'I used to roam around naked when I was a kid,'said one.

Diaz was not arrested for bringing her child to her posing spot. The police commissioner added that his cops will speak to city child-welfare workers about what officers might be able to do in the future to deal with such behavior.

“Looking at the exploitation of that young child for whatever the … motivation … we’re actually going to be having a consultation with the Administration for Child Services to see if in fact that behavior would constitute something they should be involved in,’’ he said.

After being spoken to by the cop, the mom soon abandoned her panhandling plans and left the area without receiving any tips.

Diaz is just one of numerous semi-naked women who pose for tips with tourists in Times Square.

Complaints have been made over the influx of topless women prancing around and charging tourists to be in photos, deeming it inappropriate and offensive.

The women, who cover their bodies in paint and and typically wear nothing but a thong, are not in trouble for being topless - which is legal in New York City - but for posing with underage children.

The Desnudas have also been under attack with elected officials including Mayor de Blasio and New York Governor Cuomo focusing attention on how 'wrong' it is for women to pose topless in body paint in exchange for tips.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said she has been spending 'a great deal of time' trying to determine the best way to reign in the performers.

Lovin' it! Lourdes Carrasquillo, 32, is pictured left posing with a tourist in New York's Times Square known as the Crossroads of the World

However, despite the irritation of officials, under New York City law it is perfectly legal for the women to pose bare-breasted in a public space.

The number of women at the tourist mecca have doubled in the last year, with about 40 walking around the Square on the weekends.

A task force announced by Hizzoner and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton has now been assembled with the aim to curb the activity of the the desnudas and costumed characters that roam the pedestrian plazas looking for tips. It is expected to issue its report by October 1.

The area has been become increasingly violent in recent years with a number of the costumed characters frequently involved in aggressive incidents.

The desnudas have also been unable to avoid the threatening streak with one allegedly assaulted in Times Square this weekend.

Baring all: The Desnudas consist of around 40 painted women who pose with tourists for tips at Times Square

Taking stock: Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was looking into whether topless performers, such as the one above, could be removed from Times Square